India Day celebrated-Seychelles-Indo relations hailed |29 January 2013

A flag-hoisting ceremony was held at India House, which is the residence of the Indian High Commissioner, at Au Cap to mark the occasion.

A number of people turned up for the event, including a number of representatives of the Indian navy.

After the Indian national anthem was played and the flag hoisted, the highlight of the ceremony was when the Indian high commissioner to Seychelles Thanglura Darlong read out the message of the President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee for the occasion.

In President Mukherjee’s address, a lot of the country’s achievements were highlighted, such as progress made over the last 60 years.

“In the last decades, there is much that we can be proud of. Our economic growth rate has more than tripled. The literacy rate has increased by over four times. After having attained self-sufficiency, we are now exporters of food-grain. Significant reduction in the incidence of poverty has been achieved. Among our other major achievements is the drive towards gender equality.”

The President’s message also spoke of the recent rape and murder of a young woman.
“The brutal rape and murder of a young woman, a young woman who was symbol of all that new India strives to be, has left our hearts empty and our minds in turmoil. We have lost more than a valuable life; we lost a dream. If today young Indians feel outraged, can we blame our youth? It is time for the nation to reset its moral compass. We must look deep into our conscience and find out where we have faltered. People must believe that governance is an instrument for good and for that, we must ensure good governance.”

“Last year has been a testing time for us all as we moved ahead on the path of economic reforms.
 We must remain alive to the persisting problems of market-dependent economies. Many rich nations are now trapped by a culture of entitlement without social obligations; we must avoid this trap.
 The results of our policies should be seen in our villages, farms and factories, schools and hospitals. Figures mean nothing to those who do not benefit from them. We must act immediately otherwise the current pockets of conflict, often described as ‘Naxalite’ violence, could acquire far more dangerous dimensions,” adds the message.

He added that India is ready to offer a hand of friendship and peace to its neighbours, but that hand “should not be taken for granted”.

President Mukherjee promised that India will change more in the next 10 years than in the previous 60.

After the speech, all present joined for a more light-hearted moment.